Product Overview

Summary: This Onsite Traffic Flow Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for separating vehicles, mobile plant and pedestrians on Australian worksites. It helps businesses design, implement and monitor safe traffic routes, significantly reducing the risk of collisions, near misses and congestion-related delays.

Vehicle and mobile plant movements are one of the highest-risk activities on any Australian worksite, from construction sites and depots to warehouses and manufacturing facilities. This Onsite Traffic Flow Management SOP sets out a structured, step-by-step approach for planning, controlling and reviewing traffic movements so that pedestrians, contractors, visitors and drivers are protected at all times. It translates WHS and road-related safety obligations into practical onsite controls such as designated routes, speed limits, exclusion zones, signage, spotters and communication protocols.

The procedure addresses common pain points faced by businesses, including ad‑hoc parking, delivery trucks blocking access, forklifts mixing with foot traffic, and confusion about who has right of way. By implementing this SOP, you create a consistent and defensible system for managing onsite traffic that can be applied across multiple sites and projects. It supports compliance with Australian WHS legislation, strengthens your safety culture, and minimises the likelihood of serious incidents, costly downtime, and regulatory scrutiny following a vehicle-related injury or property damage event.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of vehicle–pedestrian collisions through clearly defined routes, separation controls and exclusion zones.
• Ensure compliance with WHS legislation and traffic management obligations by formalising how onsite traffic is planned, implemented and reviewed.
• Improve site efficiency by streamlining delivery, loading and parking arrangements, reducing congestion and bottlenecks.
• Standardise expectations for drivers, operators, contractors and visitors with clear rules, maps, signage and communication protocols.
• Support incident prevention and continuous improvement through documented inspections, monitoring, reporting and corrective actions.

Who is this for?

• Site Supervisors
• Project Managers
• WHS Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Traffic Controllers
• Operations Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Warehouse and Logistics Managers
• Civil Construction Foremen
• Transport and Fleet Coordinators

Hazards Addressed

• Vehicle–pedestrian collisions
• Mobile plant and vehicle–vehicle collisions
• Reversing vehicle incidents and blind-spot strikes
• Forklift interactions with pedestrians and other vehicles
• Crush and pinch injuries between vehicles, structures and people
• Struck-by incidents from moving plant in loading and unloading areas
• Traffic congestion leading to unsafe manoeuvres and near misses
• Poor visibility due to lighting, weather or site layout
• Unauthorised access to high-risk vehicle operating zones
• Slips, trips and falls arising from poorly defined pedestrian routes near traffic

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 References, Definitions and Abbreviations
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Officers, Supervisors, Traffic Controllers, Workers, Contractors, Visitors)
• 4.0 Site Traffic Risk Assessment and Planning Process
• 5.0 Development of Onsite Traffic Management Plans and Maps
• 6.0 Separation of Vehicles, Mobile Plant and Pedestrians
• 7.0 Designated Routes, One-Way Systems, Speed Limits and Parking Controls
• 8.0 Loading, Unloading and Delivery Management Procedures
• 9.0 Use of Spotters, Traffic Controllers and Communication Protocols (radios, hand signals)
• 10.0 Signage, Line Marking, Barriers and Physical Control Measures
• 11.0 Management of High-Risk Activities (reversing, night work, confined spaces, shared public roads)
• 12.0 Induction, Training and Information for Workers, Contractors and Visitors
• 13.0 Pre-Start Checks, Inspections and Monitoring of Traffic Controls
• 14.0 Incident, Near Miss and Non-Conformance Reporting and Investigation
• 15.0 Emergency Access, Egress and Response Considerations
• 16.0 Change Management and Review of Traffic Flow Arrangements
• 17.0 Recordkeeping and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risk of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Work Health and Safety Consultation, Cooperation and Coordination
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced in many systems)
• AS ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use
• Austroads Guides and relevant state road authority worksite traffic management guidelines (as applicable)